CVE-2022-35975 in GitOps Tools
Summary
by MITRE • 08/18/2022
The GitOps Tools Extension for VSCode can make it easier to manage Flux objects. A specially crafted Flux object may allow for remote code execution in the machine running the extension, in the context of the user that is running VSCode. Users using the VSCode extension to manage clusters that are shared amongst other users are affected by this issue. The only safe mitigation is to update to the latest version of the extension.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/18/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-35975 resides within the GitOps Tools Extension for Visual Studio Code, a widely adopted tool that facilitates management of Flux Kubernetes objects through a graphical interface. This extension serves as a bridge between developers and Kubernetes clusters, enabling them to visualize and manipulate GitOps configurations directly within their development environment. The flaw manifests in the extension's handling of specially crafted Flux objects that can trigger unintended behavior when processed by the underlying VSCode runtime environment. The vulnerability specifically affects users who employ this extension to manage shared Kubernetes clusters where multiple users have access to the same infrastructure, creating a particularly dangerous scenario for collaborative development environments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the extension's parsing mechanisms for Flux resource definitions. When a maliciously crafted Flux object is loaded or processed by the extension, it can exploit a code execution path that allows arbitrary commands to be executed with the privileges of the user running VSCode. This represents a critical privilege escalation vulnerability since the extension operates within the context of the developer's local machine, potentially granting attackers access to sensitive development environments and the ability to manipulate cluster configurations. The flaw aligns with CWE-74 and CWE-94 categories, which address injection vulnerabilities and code execution issues respectively, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with attack patterns described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of development environments where the extension is used. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to gain access to source code repositories, manipulate deployment configurations, or even escalate privileges to access other systems within the network. The shared cluster scenario mentioned in the vulnerability description creates a particularly concerning attack surface since a single compromised developer machine could provide attackers with access to production or staging environments. Organizations using this extension in collaborative settings face significant risk as the vulnerability can be exploited through seemingly benign Flux object manipulation, making detection and prevention challenging. The impact is further amplified by the fact that many development teams rely heavily on VSCode extensions for their daily workflow, making the attack vector both accessible and persistent.
The recommended mitigation strategy centers on updating to the latest version of the GitOps Tools Extension, which contains patches addressing the input validation issues that enable this vulnerability. This represents the primary and most effective solution since the vulnerability stems from specific implementation flaws within the extension's codebase that require code-level fixes. Organizations should implement immediate update policies across their development teams to ensure all instances of the extension are patched. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of validating all user-supplied data within development tools and demonstrates why security should be integrated into the development lifecycle from the beginning. Continuous monitoring and automated patch management systems should be deployed to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future, as the nature of this vulnerability suggests that similar injection flaws may exist in other extensions handling similar data formats.